Exacum plant named Blue Ropendel

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of Exacum plant named Blue Ropendel having attractive single blue-violet flowers, excellent floriferousness, and a cascading growth habit.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Exacumplant, hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name Blue Ropendel.

Blue Ropendel was discovered and selected by me as a mutation of thecultivar known as Best Blue in a controlled environment in Assens,Denmark in the Summer of 1985. The new cultivar was discovered growingamong plants of the parent cultivar. It was recognized due to itstrailing growth habit, as opposed to the upright growth habit of theparent cultivar Best Blue.

The first act of asexual reproduction of Blue Ropendel was accomplishedby propagation from stem cuttings in Assens, Denmark in Summer of 1985.Horticultural examination of selected units, initiated in the Autumn of1985, has demonstrated that the combination of characteristics as hereindisclosed for Blue Ropendel arefirmly fixed and are retained throughsuccessive generations of asexual reproduction.

Blue Ropendel has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions. The phenotype may vary significantly with variations inenvironment such as temperature, light intensity and day length. Thefollowing observations, measurements and comparisons describe plantsgrown in Assens/Aarsley, Denmark under greenhouse conditions whichapproximate those generally used in commercial practice. Colorreferences are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart andwere taken from plants grown in Denmark. The flower color of plantsgrown in Texas will be somewhat lighter.

The accompanying photographic drawing shows typical specimen plants ofthe new cultivar, grown in an 8" pot forming a hanging basket. Thecolors are as true as possible for color illustrations of this type. Thephotograph was taken in Amarillo, Tex. in Aug. 1988 under full lightconditions. This accounts for the flower color appearing lighter than itactually is. The photograph is of three (3) plants of Blue Ropendelstarted as cuttings in an 8" pot, with the plants shown being twelve(12) weeks old.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe basic characteristics of Blue Ropendel, which in combinationdistinguish this Exacum Plant as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. Trailing growth, making the new cultivar ideally suited for hangingbaskets.

2. Single flowers.

3. Attractive blue-violet flower color.

4. Easily reproduced from stem cuttings.

5. Good branching, and flexible stems.

6. Floriferous habit.

Origin: Mutation of the exacum cultivar known as Best Blue.

Blue Ropendel is primarily distinguished from its parent Best Blue byits growth habit. Whereas the parent cultivar possesses an uprightgrowth habit and relatively rigid stems, Blue Ropendel has flexiblestems and an outward as well as upward growth. This results in acascading of the side branches so as to make the cultivar ideally suitedfor hanging baskets.

Plant:

1. Form.--Trailing or cascading, good branching.

2. Height to flowering.--About 15 cm.

3. Plant diameter (mature plant).--About 27 cm.

4. Growth rate.--Fast under good light conditions.

5. Growth habit.--Dense, cascading.

6. Rooting time.--About 10 to 12 days.

Foliage:

1. Arrangement.--Opposite, sessile leaves at the bottom of all nodes.

2. Size.--Leaf blade and petiole about 40 to 50 mm, length of bladeabout 20 to 30 mm, width about 15 to 25 mm.

3. Base.--Attenutate.

4. Color.--Petiole: near to 144B. Veins: near to 145B. Leaf top surface:near to 138A. Leaf under surface: near to 144B.

5. Margin.--Entire.

6. Quantity.--Abundant.

7. Venation.--Three-veined from petiole, middle vein strongest.

8. Shape of leaves.--Cordate to elliptic, ovate.

9. Surface.--Smooth.

10. Texture.--Glabrous.

11. Variegation.--None.

Stem:

1. Color.--Near to 144B, purplish at internodes.

2. Length of internodes.--about 25 to 36 mm.

3. Breaking action.--Sympodial.

4. Structure.--Strong, rounded quadrangular.

Flower:

1. Bud color.--Near to 145B.

2. Bud size.--About 5 to 6 mm.

3. Form.--Round.

4. Borne.--Terminal, single at the end of each node.

5. Size.--About 14 to 18 mm.

6. Calyx.--5-winged, color near to 143B.

7. Petals.--Number -- 5. Top surface color -- In Denmark, 87B for new tothree-fourths open flowers, with flower color at same maturity in Texasbeing somewhat lighter, 87B-C; color fades to 87C. Undersurface color --Near to 87C. Shape -- Heart-shaped.

8. Lasting quality.--Flowers average one week in duration.

9. Overall appearance.--Attractive and abundant blue-violet flowers,with fresh flowers continually replacing maturing ones.

Peduncle:

1. Length.--About 39 mm.

2. Color.--Purplish.

3. Aspect.--Straight.

4. Strength.--Erect in all directions.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Exacum plant named BlueRopendel, as illustrated and described.